Page 174 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

172  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

p27), when it was enclosed by
a brickwall and gates. Twenty
years later it was allocated to
Non-conformists, who were
banned from being buried in
churchyards because of their
refusal to use the Church of
England prayer book.
The cemetery is situated
on the edge of the City, and
shaded by large plane trees.
There are monuments to the
well-known writers Daniel
Defoe, John Bunyan and
William Blake, as well as to
members of the Cromwell
family. John Milton wrote
his epic poem Paradise Lost
The Barbican Centre and surrounding residential blocks while he lived in Bunhill Row,
located on the west side
9 Barbican As well as two theatres and a of the cemetery.
concert hall, the Barbican
Silk St EC2. Map 7 A5. Tel 020 7638 Centre has two cinemas, two
8891. 1 Barbican, Moorgate.
Barbican Centre Open 9am–11pm galleries and an excellent
Mon–Sat, 11am–11pm Sun, public library. It is also home to the
hols. Art galleries: 10am–6pm daily London Symphony Orchestra
(to 9pm Thu & Fri). Conservatory: and the Guildhall School of
11am–5pm, most Suns (check website Music and Drama. One of its
for days). 8 - 0 e = 7 more surprising features is a
induction loop. See Entertainment large conservatory; this tropical
pp345–8. ∑ barbican.org.uk oasis, containing over 2,000
plants, makes a delightful
An ambitious piece of 1960s refuge on a chilly afternoon.
city planning, this residential,
commercial and arts complex
was begun in 1962 on a site 0 Bunhill Fields
devastated by World War II City Rd EC1. Map 7 B4. Tel 020 7374
bombs, and not completed for 4127 (City Gardens). 1 Old Street. Wesley’s Chapel, with a museum to the
nearly 20 years. Residential Open Apr–Sep: 8am–7pm (or dusk) Methodist church John Wesley founded
tower blocks surround the Mon–Fri, 9:30am–7pm (or dusk) Sat,
Barbican Centre, a prestigious Sun & public hols; Oct–Mar: 8am–4pm q Wesley’s Chapel–
arts complex, which also Mon–Fri; 9:30am–4pm Sat, Sun & Leysian Mission
includes an ornamental lake public hols. Closed 1 Jan, 25 & 26 Dec.
and fountains. 8 Apr–Oct: 12:30pm Wed 7 phone 49 City Rd EC1. Map 7 B4. Tel 020
The old city wall turned a first. ∑ cityoflondon.gov.uk 7253 2262. 1 Old Street, Moorgate.
corner here and substantial Open 10am–4pm Mon–Sat. Closed
remains of the fortifications are The burial ground was first between Christmas & New Year, public
still clearly visible (particularly designated a cemetery after hols (except Good Friday). 7 5
9:45am (not 1st Sun of month), 11am
so from the Museum of London the Great Plague of 1665 (see Sun, 7am Mon, 12:45pm Wed & Thu.
– see pp170–71). The word 8 groups book ahead. = Free
barbican means a defensive lunchtime recitals: Thu.
tower over a gate and in a ∑ wesleyschapel.org.uk
sense the modern complex
retains the air of a self-sufficient John Wesley, the founder of
community, with formidable the Methodist church, laid this
defences against the outside chapel’s foundation stone in
world. Obscure entrances and 1777. He preached here until his
raised walkways remove death in 1791, and is buried
pedestrians from the cramped behind the chapel. Next door is
bustle of the City, but, in spite the house where he lived, where
of the signposts and yellow some of his furniture, books and
lines on the pavement, the other possessions can be seen.
complex can be difficult The chapel, in accordance
to navigate. William Blake’s gravestone at Bunhill Fields with Wesley’s austere religious

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